Have you ever been awakened by a feeling of an aching or tingling sensation in your legs? Do you feel the sudden urge to get up and move around afterwards? If so, you may have what is known as restless leg syndrome. Restless leg syndrome, also known as RLS, affects 10-15% of the US population. While the cause of restless leg syndrome is unknown in most cases, it has been linked to obesity, iron deficiency, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, pregnancy, stress, diabetes, nerve disease and kidney failure.

For those suffering with Restless Leg Syndrome, there is good news. Restless Leg Syndrome is easily treatable and in some cases, it’s curable. Making simple changes in your daily routine can help ease the symptoms of RLS. Before you being any changes however, check with your doctor to be sure that your symptoms are not something more serious such as, nerve problems or circulation difficulties. Once you have established that what you have is Restless Leg Syndrome, you can try the steps below to help relieve your aching-tingling legs.

Soak in a tub – Try soaking in warm water to relax your leg muscles and relieve RSL symptoms.

Try a massage – Massaging is another successful relief technique for aching legs.

Skip the caffeine – If you find yourself drinking a lot of caffeine, limit it. Beverages such as tea, cocoa, coffee and soft drinks can trigger RLS symptoms.

Get better sleep – Not getting enough sleep can actually make RLS symptoms, worse. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep around the same time every night. If you find you still cannot get enough sleep, try going to bed later and getting up later in the morning.

Get plenty of exercise – Making exercise a daily part of your life may not only relieve symptoms of RLS; it can also keep you strong and healthy. Exercise does not have to be difficult. Try something as simple as walking or stretching to relieve symptoms. Just remember not to overdo it since excessive exercise could make symptoms worse.

Take a pain reliever – If your symptoms are mild, try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce the tingling sensation. For severe symptoms, ask your doctor about medications that can be prescribed for Restless Leg Syndrome.

Apply ice or heat packs – Try alternating cold and warm packs to lessen the sensations associated with RLS.

Avoid alcohol and tobacco – Using alcohol and tobacco can actually worsen RLS symptoms. Try reducing your intake of tobacco and alcohol to see if there is an improvement in your symptoms.

Take a supplement – Iron, Folic Acid, Magnesium and L-theanine may reduce or even eliminate symptoms caused by Restless Leg Syndrome. Be sure to ask your doctor first, before you begin taking any supplements.

Seek Alternative Medicines - If an over-the-counter or prescription medication just isn’t right for you, you may find that acupuncture is a better alternative in medicine. Acupuncture is a Chinese medicine that can provide relief of many ailments, by inserting needles into the living tissues of the skin.

Related Articles
	Foot Reflexology - Fancy Footwork or Steps to Good Health? If your eyes are the mirrors of the soul, then your feet are the blueprint of your body. At least those who practice foot reflexology think so. Reflexology, which is also called zone therapy, is the practice of pressing or massaging areas of the feet and hands to stimulate circulation and nerve   ...Read more		Treating Athlete`s Foot How many times have you seen the commercials with the fit, good-looking guy promoting the latest product for treating Athlete’s Foot? This skin condition is well known, but the name can be misleading. Unfortunately, most commercials that address Athlete’s Foot don’t portray the people   ...Read more